Sarah Dash

This article reads like a press release or a news article and may be largely based on routine coverage. Please help improve this article and add independent sources. (October 2015)

Sarah Dash
Dash in 2014
Background information
Born	(1945-08-18)August 18, 1945 Trenton, New Jersey, U.S.
Died	September 20, 2021(2021-09-20) (aged 76)
Genres	R&B soul funk disco funk rock blues rock pop dance music jazz hip hop
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter
Years active	1961–2021
Labels	Kirshner Manhattan EMI Megatone Cutting
Website	sarahdash.net

Sarah Dash (August 18, 1945 – September 20, 2021) was an American singer. She first appeared on the music scene as a member of Patti LaBelle & The Bluebelles.^[1] Dash was later a member of Labelle, and worked as a singer, session musician, and sidewoman for The Rolling Stones, and Keith Richards.

Biography

Early career

The seventh of 13 children, Dash was born in

In 1967, Birdsong left the group to join

During this period, the group gained notice from the mainstream after opening for singer-songwriter Laura Nyro and recording an album, Gonna Take a Miracle, together. They also toured with British rock group The Who, leading up to the 1973 release of Pressure Cookin' This featured more songwriting from Hendryx and a more unified group effort in which Dash sang co-lead, including the ballad, "Can I Speak to You Before You Go to Hollywood?", where Dash sings most of the song. Dash's strong vocals in the group provided for balance and stability when LaBelle and Hendryx occasionally went off on vocal tangents or were pulling audience members up onto the stage to dance. Dash also wrote several songs.

Despite the group's cult raves for their early material, their critical success did not translate to commercial acclaim until the releases of 1974's Nightbirds (which featured the group's biggest smash single of their careers, "Lady Marmalade") and 1975's Phoenix. Following the release of 1976's Chameleon and a 1977 tour, the group agreed to split after the trio failed to come to terms with material (the group were working on an album titled Shaman when they split) and had finally "rocked and rolled themselves out".^{[citation needed]}

Solo career

In 1978, Dash released her self-titled debut album, which included the top-ten disco hit, "Sinner Man".^[3] She also performed vocals on several ballads, notably "You," and "We're Lovers After All," and "I Can't Believe Someone Like You Could Really Love Me," (with a full gospel choir backing); she also had another minor disco hit with "(Come and Take) This Candy from Your Baby". Dash enjoyed much success and television and public appearances with "Sinner Man." At this time, she was asked to compose and sing "For The Love of You" (the theme song for the 1980s PBS show Watch Your Mouth) and "Bringing It All Home." She also guest-starred on an episode of Watch Your Mouth, playing a fictional character, a super diva with an attitude, "Tessie Bright".

However, on her Don Kirshner albums, and especially Ooh La La, Sarah Dash, (1980) she was given substandard material to work with, although she wrote "I Feel Good Being Me" for this album. It featured one disco track, "Ooh La La, Too Soon," which was used in a Sassoon jeans commercial, and Phyllis Hyman provided backing vocals to the album. After releasing one more album Close Enough, for Kirshner, which features ballads such as "Somebody's Angel" and "God Bless You," and the rocker, "Paradise," Dash left Kirshner for other opportunities.

In 1983, Dash released two dance singles for Megatone Records in San Francisco, both produced by Patrick Cowley. The first, "Low Down Dirty Rhythm" was basically ignored, but the second single "Lucky Tonight" (featuring background vocals by Sylvester), was much more successful, even rising to the #5 spot on Billboard's Dance Chart, and was even a Billboard "Pick of the Week."

Dash's next endeavor was the recording she made on the rap record, Satisfaction, for High Fidelity Three in 1985. Also during this time, Dash did session work for The O'Jays, Nile Rodgers of Chic (duetting on a ballad with Rodgers, "My Love Song for You" from, The Adventures in the Land of the Good Groove), The Marshall Tucker Band, and David Johansen.

In the later 1980s, she teamed up with musician

A dance music single with gospel lyrics called "Hold On (He'll Be Right There)," produced by Jason King and Gavin Bradley, was released in 2012.

Reunited with the Rolling Stones

In 1988, Keith Richards invited Dash to accompany him on tour: her association with him led to another world tour, a tour with Richards'

Dash along with the group LaBelle, were inducted into the Philadelphia Music Alliance Walk of Fame in October 2017.[4]^[5]

In 2016, Dash was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by The National R&B Music Society.^[6]

Charity work

Much of Dash's focus since the early 1990s was on helping to raise money for homeless single women with children in New York. Dash received a citation from the deputy Mayor of New York City, Ruth Messinger, for her work and efforts in the underprivileged New York City community where she raised funds. Dash collected donations and funds she acquired for these mothers and their children which included clothing, toys, books, after-school activities, excursions to amusement parks, theater in the parks, and food.

Personal life

Sarah Dash was married briefly and had no children. The author of an autobiography, Dash of Diva, Dash also wrote and appeared in a self-penned musical of the same title that was presented at the Cross Roads Theater in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

Death

Dash died unexpectedly on September 20, 2021, at the age of 76. No cause of death was given.^[7]

Dash's last performance was on September 18, 2021 (two days before her death) in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Patti LaBelle called Dash up to the stage for them to sing a song together.^[8]

Discography

Albums

• Sarah Dash, 1978,
  Kirshner Records
• Ooh La La, Sarah Dash, 1980,
  Kirshner Records
• Close Enough, 1983,
  Kirshner Records
• You're All I Need, 1988, EMI

Singles

• "Sinner Man" (1978),
  Kirshner Records
• "(Come and Take This) Candy from Your Baby" (1978), Kirshner
• "Ooh La La Too Soon" (1980), Kirshner
• "Leaving Again" (1983), Kirshner
• "Low Down Dirty Rhythm" (1983), Megatone Records
• "Lucky Tonight" (1983), Megatone Records
• "Satisfaction" (with High Fidelity Three) (1985), Cutting Records
• "It's Too Late" (with Dr. York) (1985)
• "Feel Good" (1988), EMI
• "When You Talk to Me" (1990), EMI-Manhattan
• "Sparkle" (with Ari Gold) (2011), Gold 18 Records
• "Hold On (He'll Be Right There)" (2012), Superlatude
• "Sinner Man" (2021 Remixes), House of Pride Music

Film and television

• SOUL!, 1968
• MCA
• Midnight Special, 1978
• Merv Griffin Show, 1978
• Dinah Shore Show, 1978
• Dance Fever, 1978
• Soul Train, 1978
• Don Kirshner's Rock Concert, 1978
• Watch Your Mouth (acting as character 'Tessie Bright'), 1978, PBS
• Soul Train, 1978
• Mr. SOUL!, 2018 (archival footage)